Astrophotography Basics: What Should Your Images Look Like?

I get a lot of messages from people starting out, that are really thrown off when they look at that first image frame and how underwhelming it is. I hope this video helps.
Image Processing Guide: bit.ly/astro-processing
My "Main" Astrophotography Setup (2023)
Telescope: Radian 75
Camera: bit.ly/3CpwJHO
Filter Wheel: bit.ly/3N0tZFv
Filters: bit.ly/3XhwhVL
Mount: bit.ly/42CnQVY
Controller: bit.ly/45WkWy7
Guide Scope: bit.ly/3oHYmZu
Guide Camera: bit.ly/3OY9LPg
KZbin Video Gear:
Camera: amzn.to/3uQsGz6​
Lens: amzn.to/3hViIaN
Microphone: amzn.to/2MIRbgq​
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[@joshmccollumastrophotography]

While I no longer consider myself a beginner, these videos are still super entertaining to watch! I couldn't be more thankful for Trevor's tutorials and astro-basic videos, and truly did help when I was just starting out with nothing but a camera and a plastic tripod. Thank you so much!

[@AstroBackyard]

Thank you, Josh!! Clear skies

[@nygmangaming8623]

program name?@@AstroBackyard

[@AntharikshamTV]

Thank you bro. I took images of the Milky Way galaxy and Andromeda with my Sony ZV-E10. I can see little data but thought something I did wrong. After watching this video my way of thinking has changed.

[@kristiankrekac1112]

Nice vid. Would be interested in a full, complete image processing video from the very beginning to the end even in an hour video.

[@givemespace2742]

Have a look at Nico Carver's channel. He does long, detailed and informative 'how to' videos. Make sure you have a pad to take notes. 😊

[@SuperCar_Maniac911]

@@givemespace2742 I just started this beautiful journey of Astrophotography Thks for the suggestion

[@ogshotglass9291]

As a friendly reminder for those using the DSLR method, always double-check that your RAW picture quality is enabled. One time when I first started, I forgot to switch it and all the photos were still dark after editing (and incredibly noisy). I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I saw the ".JPG" instead of ".CR2" at the end of the file names.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

I did this myself at the very beginning! I was spitting feathers with frustration, wondering what on God's good earth I had done wrong, then like you, I finally noticed "JPG" on the files! LOL I'm a few months in now, but still have a lot to learn! Clear Skies!

[@agrillhasnoname]

So when you take a RAW picture you know it's a file of that type because of the .CR2 extension? As a beginner who just edited my 1st astrophotography photo using lightroom, I'm very confused and lost. But I'm also impressed due to the difference after edit, I can see a few night stars clearly, before edit not so much. I used a Gcam mod (BSG 8.9 I think), turned on an option relative to RAW format in the advanced settings, I thought that was enough to save RAW files but now I'm not so sure after your comment because the original photo was .jpg, not .cr2. Also, I don't know if that's normal but the size was small, only around 700Kb.

[@ogshotglass9291]

@@agrillhasnoname that .CR2 file type is only for Canon-branded DSLRs. Each camera brand has a different file type. I double-checked what Gcam is, and I'm assuming you are using a Google phone for the photos?

[@ogshotglass9291]

@@agrillhasnoname if you do, your phone might be saving them as .dng files. With my personal experience using a Google Pixel 6, I wouldn't necessarily recommend using RAW unless you are doing planetary or moon photography. The RAW images in astrophotography mode are still very noisy. It may be because it's using a high ISO though.

[@tristb9196]

Definitely love seeing these videos from you. Just delving into the hobby after arguing with myself for an hour before investing in a rather small setup and starter kit, your videos are incredibly helpful.

[@OldGirlPhotography]

Thank you so much Trevor. These concepts have been mingling in my mind for the past few months since I started this hobby last October. You have really cleared up a few things for me. Thank you.

[@exodedescerveaux]

This video is incredibly helpful and inspiring. You’ve made this endeavor mentally approachable for so many of us. Thanks!

[@Annodite]

Hi Trevor! Missed your videos. Glad you've uploaded another video reviewing the basics. Forever grateful to the amount of knowledge I gained from you to help me kick start this hobby :)

[@PatrikHolmberg]

Really great video. I'm quite new to astrophotography and my reaction to my first stacked dso image was basically this. Then I did some reading on the processing steps and watched tonnes of yours and others astrophotograpy processing videos. Just upgraded my camera from a DSLR to a DSO camera, the sv405cc from Svbony. Very excited for some good weather here in Sweden. Clear skies

[@Crypticdragon1]

Wow! This is extremely helpful and reassuring! It does certainly get discouraging when you feel like you keep messing up. Thanks for the kind and inspiring videos!

[@urbanexcursion]

Oh man, this video made me feel so much better. Over the weekend I spent 3 hours photographing the Orion Nebula only to receive a black image in Siril. Even though I was able to get an OK picture out of it, I thought I had messed up. Glad to know a black screen in linear mode is nothing to worry about. Thanks!

[@astropixel8225]

Thank you for this video. I am a beginner and lost quit a bit of confidence when I first saw my pictures. This helped me to get some of that back! Thank you.😃

[@robertdeitrich2698]

Thank you so much for providing all of this information to us newbs. My ignorance about this hobby is astounding, and you and others like Nico at Nebula Photos, are doing so much to correct this.

[@vonivan3559]

As someone who still don't have sophisticated gears like these (still uses mobile phone lol), I grow my admiration for astrophotography and even just the night sky because of the things and contents you constantly share to us, Trevor. There will be a day that I'll have my own, just enough to improve my enjoyment for this hobby. Keep this up! Much love brother. For more clear skies. Thanks for inspiring many people.

[@richardspence5316]

Very informative. I can recall using my Nikon D3100 and ED80 in my early days, and being bewildered as to why I had a dark bottle green image with no perceivable data. Wish I'd have seen a tutorial like this when I was starting out. Spot on Trevor

[@tomkoenig3047]

I appreciate your amazing insight. I'm new to this hobby. There's so much to learn. I like how you cover the details but it's not so complicated you lose your audience. Yes, I look forward to learning more about the calibration, full black & full white baselines. I've only heard on astro-friend mention it. That video would be helpful.

[@goonerwin1]

i love this channel, your astrophotography is first class but i love your video editing, nico carver from nebula photos for his in-depth knowledge and luke from lukamatico for his simplistic approach to processing, you are goats to your approach to astrophotography 👍👏👏👏

[@simonpepper5053]

Loved that outro of M31 getting better and better! You and that galaxy is why I got into this hobby. Thanks Trevor!

[@thomassurber7487]

Thank you so much! My son and I have started this hobby and needed this video!

[@vicfrombelgium8765]

it is just amazing how astrophotograpy has evolved over the years.

[@johannesofner2954]

A big THANK YOU from Austria Trevor! Your educational journey is so much appreciated.

[@Aztronoob]

This is why I love ASIAir and live preview. Then taking them in to Pixinsight to process never gets old! Another fantastic video, Trevor.

[@sadiegilligan8042]

I'm taking an observational astronomy class in college and we just covered image processing and it's crazy what you can capture when you simply know where to look and how to process the photos. my mind is blown every time I take out my camera! Thank you for the videos and helping me get an A in my class!

[@SyriusLee]

The last 25 sec is really beautiful the music and all the details showing up!

[@jpulley]

I was on Amazon looking at Astro cameras. A guy gave a camera that cost around $1k a 1 star review. He said he couldn't even see anything on his computer. He thought he could just look at his laptop and see nebulas and galaxies in real time. He said if knew he had to take a bunch of photos and process them he would look at pictures of these things on the internet. I couldn't believe that someone could be that far down the line to buy a $1k astrophotography camera and still know so little. I just go my first EQ mount yesterday to slap my mirrorless camera on and I knew better. I have been doing photography on and off as a hobby for about 10 years now. I have experimented with star trails and other long exposure photography.

[@3SistersAstronomy]

Awesome video as always Trevor!

[@metricscaler]

Hey man just bought a EOS 7D and I love your videos !! It has 3 kit lenses and I thought they were useless but your videos on them are so good . Love em!!

[@NotCuu]

The Timelapse at the end was amazing! Great video!

[@hotflashfoto]

Thank you. That is reassuring for me. I have most of the gear and need to get my SUV back on the road so I can start learning how to do this.

[@bowks1o_o669]

Great video as usual. We actually got some clear skies here in Melbourne, Australia for the first time in nearly 2 months over the weekend, so went out with the Meade LX85 8" ACF and Canon 650D. Did just over an hour each on M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) and NGC5128 (Centaurus A), where I got some good data. I wasn't happy after initially stacking because I just had lights, darks and bias frames, as I have never done flats on my SCT. I went back out the next day and re-set up my scope with a t-shirt over it and did 25 flats, and it removed nearly all the vignetting and gave me a much better, more contrasted base stack to stretch. So, a couple of things for beginners and those a couple of years in to their astrophoography journey - don't skimp on the flats. Particularly if you are shooting from suburban skies like my high Bortle 6 skies. Secondly, if you are using a DSLR, make sure you switch all the lens correction and compensation off before your sessions. I have a full night of shooting ruined recently because I left this on and it made removing the vignette impossible (I was using my full frame DSLR which made it worse).

[@F14AB]

I’m a beginner in this astrophotography and I appreciate these videos..

[@Gage-ro6kp]

This helps so much! As an amateur, I really find this helpful!

[@patrickrede]

Thanks. Just started taking pics. Good to know.

[@nobodynoone5795]

Thank you for sharing…. I’m curious about the universe and astrophography is one if my new adventures. I was a bit bummed at first not getting to interesting pictures…. This was a great help to improving and learning. 😊

[@scottyszoo.8093]

Great video again! I've been getting 300 sec exposures with the 294mcpro but I've not learnt how to stack or process yet. Even the single images wow me

[@Denny_963]

Well done, Trevor! I'm about two years in now, but watched a lot of your videos to get started!

[@AstroBackyard]

Thank you!

[@haroldfernandez9209]

Your pictures are amazing, I am a biginner astrophotographer and your videos show us the viewers how amazing astrophotography is and how beautiful space is🌌🔭 clear skies.

[@sallyjberry805]

Although I occasionally take night sky images, I am just starting out and beginning to have an interest in astro. This video was very useful to this 'newbie". I'm looking forward to learning more.

[@craiglowery4427]

Thank you Trevor. I can’t wait for your PixInsight tutorial

[@andreww9252]

Thanks Trevor great info, I would have been very disappointed with my first shots and wasted way too much time working it out without your video.

[@maddyboistats925]

Super helpful! Thanks!!

[@stefanoVillaMilano]

very useful, really a great job!

[@xtm123]

Trevor, your into on this video is hilarious!!! I think every astro photographer has experienced that moment. I think my problem is I don't spend enough time collecting data. Something I personally need to work on. Great video!!!!

[@MrRatDotCom]

Fantastic video. Thanks. This is going to be required viewing for everyone in the MSM user group.

[@Astro-Stock]

Great explanation, Trevor!

[@viniguez487]

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP ON THE DSS UPDATE!

[@aerospaceboy6947]

Wow, Beautiful video !!! Thank you for your videos !!! 🔭😁👍😆👍😆

[@astronomybob]

Great video Trevor 👍

[@Abaris42]

Great video as always

[@Magnetar47]

Around a week ago, I started trying to capture some objects of interest with my DSLR (w/ 18-55 kit lens). And yesterday, I figured I'd try out stacking, and took 10 straight shots back-to-back and put it through DSS. Ngl, when I first saw the stacked TIF, I was like "wtf, where did my image go?" 😄 Yet to do post-processing on it. I want to see some tutorials from your channel and other sources first before trying to edit it. But this video really helped me be more optimistic about what I'm going to uncover during the post-processing. Thanks, Trevor. :)

[@damandeepsingh8857]

Absolutely amazing

[@briankotak403]

Nice video Trevor! Just finished (hopefully) shooting Sh2-240, the Spaghetti Nebula, over 4 nights (about 18 hours integration time). Such a dim target! The first stack of only 2 nights of data did not reveal much, even with a good camera (2600 MCPro) and L-extreme. Adequate integration time (and lots of patience) is key. Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

[@skumfidusen1233]

Great video, Trevor! I was wondering if you could make a new video tutorial on using the Star Adventurer GTI in conjunction with a standard camera, and maybe showcase some examples of what kind of shots you can capture with a 70-200 mm lens

[@3DAstroTC]

That final image reveal was super slick!

[@AstroBackyard]

Thanks man! See you in PA this summer?

[@3DAstroTC]

@@AstroBackyard yessir! And possibly sooner? My fiancée and I will be at neaf in a few weeks! But it's a big place and we'll be doing other things in the area too. But if y'all wanna meet up for coffee or a drink, hit me up!

[@khchan8341]

Thanks. I needed to know that :)

[@Petricov]

Again what a great video thank you so much for sharing the journey you took. I recently started working with Siril. I'm still in the beginning steps of my astrophotography and some tools are very expensive. For me Siril got all the tool together. After Siril i'm still using GIMP to do the last processing. What do you think of the Siril tool and could you make a video about it?

[@joeneely301]

so good!

[@m4ttnova]

I remember when I got my Osc camera, I freaked out when I saw the linear data. My next purchase was pixinsight and I love it, creating a dynamic image like the foraxx pallette is sublime

[@komivalentine3067]

When I did my first shot I was amazed how much money I spent to have a 10s exposure of some stars. It took me quite a while to figure out how my whole setup works. It took me probably 5 nights to figure out how to properly align the telescope. Then another 6 nights to get the tracking right to have >30s exposures and how to capture and edit Images. I can't wait for this Summer to finally shoot an Image I'll be proud of 🎉❤

[@lucaovidiu9063]

well, you really are amazing. Thank you

[@janetwillson3502]

Excellent!

[@PafMedic]

Im The Same As A Few Here,Im No Longer An Actual Beginner But Yours and A Few Others Are So Helpful,Im Getting A Canon t3i,Me And A Friend Are Swapping,Im Giving Her My t6,Gonna Make Life Easier…I Have A Crystal Clear Sky,and The Winds Are Settling Down,Going To Attempt My 1st Orion Nebula With My Evostar72,Its Getting Ready To See Its 1st Stars,Great Video Trevor,God Bless You and Your Family,and Clear Skies🙏🏻❤️🔭🌏✨

[@itslimsmith_]

Hats of u sir 🎓

[@justinlefebvre7582]

I'm just starting to get into mono imaging and I'm having trouble with calibration frames in pixinsight. I want to make a good master flat and bias but I think I'm not capturing properly. If you could do a video talking all about creating really good calibration frames!! Love your work btw!

[@dakotatalteco]

Please do more of these videos

[@albertmasella4385]

Would love to see a video on post processing images for beginners

[@davidletz9123]

Nice intro-level vid Trevor.

[@horu1688]

Hello for the fits format there is also the asi fit viewer

[@av-ji9qy]

Excellent video Mr Trevor…..I only using my iPhone on my scope ….I haven😢 tried to use the computer to Try and view the area photographed

[@billwright9518]

Beautiful 👍😁

[@philipcoates9185]

excellent

[@Sciguy95]

Wow, watching that beautiful image emerge with the amazing background music brought tears to my eyes because of how jealous i am that i cant afford the equipment to do anything like this.

[@Katieyhughes]

I remember that feeling 😅but now I know better 😊

[@nibblertummysticks8830]

Please do a video on calibration frames!

[@astroexo6934]

Very good👍

[@Jonasastrophotos]

Every beginner needs to see this video before they start out

[@atharvakolhar5966]

Wow ❤

[@davidletz9123]

Thanks Trevor. Is there a "standard accepted color" for the individual DSO? What color is the Andromeda galaxy supposed to be? Orion Nebula? Seems like it depends on the person processing and/or filters used?

[@nickreecy4229]

Great outro song!

[@thegodfather4713]

Hello my friend. Thanks for the video. For night photographers who don't use an astro mode camera, we'd appreciate it if you could make a video on how to better bring out colors in milky way and deep space shots, my friend.

[@BR-uz9nj]

As a beginner, these videos are very helpful. A question - when importing raw files into Lightroom, do you turn off the lens profile corrections? Are these also turned of within the camera as well? Ok those were two questions.

[@suwandicahyadi9213]

Nice video for beginners, a question. If we see the live preview from ASIAir or NINA, will we also only a pitch black image?

[@matthigg]

Great Video Trevor, was just checking out the links to the gear used and for some reason the page tries to load and then errors out. Not sure if its me, the website or the links you have posted.

[@davids2000]

Hi. I tried getting the Rosette nebula from Toronto. Using a filter, I was amazed I started data from Toronto. The clouds rolled in and I only got 6 lights of the Rosette. When I stacked it all using the asi air-bias flats and darks, I lost a lot of detail. If you dont have enough lights (6) compared to flats darks bias (50)-would that cause the loss of detail?

[@chrisaddison351]

Hi, you mentioned Debayering, when do you Debayer before stacking images? do you do this on every image you do? mannn there's a lot to learn haha

[@rvoykin]

What is your primary processing software for stacking and cleaning up the image? It looks like you use Pixinsite and DSS and then finish in PS?

[@micbernier6403]

Nice vid Trevor. Have you ever considered giving a course on SkillShare, from beginner to expert? Or more than one course.

[@jonathanw5500]

@astrobackyard I’ve loved your realistic/light polluted content for ages. My dad’s anniversary is coming up and I want to get a mount that can hook line and sinker him into astrophotography. He’s so fixated on the andromeda galaxy I want to get him something that will get his imagination going. He’s got no experience other than me (an amateur, at best) showing him the rings of Saturn, so I need a super beginner level rig. What would you recommend. We live in the in south wales, uk.

[@perry3928]

Hi Trevor. A wealth of information. Just beginning to get into astrophotography. Getting the am5 and red cat 51. Still debating on cameras for imaging and guiding. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

[@perry3928]

@tradde11 Thanks tradde11. Appreciate it. Clear skies

[@thos759]

Just what the Doctor ordered. Thanks Trevor

[@tomsmith620]

Hi Trevor. Met you at Cherry Springs. Can you clarify? Do you need bias frames for a one-shot color CMOS like the ZWO 183MC Pro? I heard you don’t really, just to use flats, darks and dark flats.

[@epicjcl6345]

you should make a step by step guide to photographing the Andromeda galaxy

[@garethsutherland9649]

Nice vid thanks! Im super new to taking pics. Using a Canon camera (nothing special) but can anyone help. When i take a long exposure pic and then view the pic, it looks amazing until i zoom in.. its blurred so i assume its vibration/noise? I have a small/short desk tripod and use the countdown option so i aint holding it during xposure. Anyway i can stop the blur? Thanks :D

[@Oxizee]

Want to see more budgets videos AB. I dun have monies for an AM5, An triplet, all kinds million dollar filters. Please more beginner friendly videos pls.

[@danielstnh]

i am pretty much a beginner so what is the best next step in terms of camera upgrade. just throw the ir-cut filter out or a full spectrum upgrade?

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I took my first lousy deep space photo the other night. It was M31. Kinda fuzzy spot. Took it into Gimp and stretching it and M110 appeared. I was tickled.

[@X-E-Qt-R]

Dude I am addicted in astronomy since I am a little kid and just knew those standard 50 bucks telescopes from walmart or something of a friend and that was not enough for me... It´s an expensive hobby but after I grew up and have a job I bought an Dobson telescope for 2k with an motor and a Canon DSLR with mount kit for the telescope and just replaced the filter of it to catch all light spectres. And got just bullshit images still... thought always I just bought bullshit together... Now I understand how it works man ty for the tips... Just didn´t know that there are "Information" still in those pictures hiding, waiting to be explored... This makes the situation more interesting and addicting for me now haha :D

[@Bortle10]

This will be me in a few weeks, when i get my first deepsky telescope :p

[@horaciodortona574]

"You didn't waste an entire night and your camera isn't broken..."almost brought me to tears.

[@Oneheartisokay]

Great vjdeo